Pavé

Pavé is a type of setting in which the gemstones or pastes are set very close together and no metal is showing from underneath. They stones are usually very small. The stones are held in place by small pieces of metal pushed over the girdle of the stone. The stones are often laid out in concentric circles. The word ‘pavé’ comes from the Middle French for ‘pavement’.

There are many fine examples of this setting in antique and period jewelry.